It’s a story about a young Rannulph Junuh (Damon), a native of Savannah, Georgia, born on or around the turn of the century. His golf game was good enough for him to win a plethora of amateur tournaments in the South. At his peak, he marries Adele Invergordon (Theron), the daughter of a rich investor. The dark ages begin with Junuh’s dispatch to fight the War to end all wars, and after a traumatic experience there, he disappears from Savannah social circle and loses his game. In comes the Great Depression, and town officials go after Adele to sell the exquisite golf course her late father envisioned and built. In order to preserve it, Adele invites the best two golfers in the world for a match, real-life golf legends Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones, but the officials insist someone represent Savannah. Which sets the stage for Junuh’s comeback, and with a little help of a mysterious caddy Bagger Vance, comeback will occur.

There’s an abundance of star power here. Matt Damon is a pretty boy that can act, just like Redford once was. Camera adores him, and short adventure to alcoholism and gambling doesn’t amount to a big stain on his character’s appeal. However, there’s not much scope to his performance, and aside from a lecture or two given and many more received, his acting is steady but uneventful. Will Smith handles well the uncharted waters of a more dramatic character, and his approach to comedy had to be changed for the role. Instead of being the loud-mouth center of everyone’s attention, Smith had to be mysterious, saying more with his face than with words. He is likeable and casual, although he can be very serious when the occasion demands. Then, we are graced with the Southern Belle character of Charlize Theron, hard-headed father’s daughter, whose beauty is matched only by her determination. As an actress, Charlize gives another dimension to Adele, softer, compassionate. Her comedic timing is almost perfect, and she is the unlikely source of most laughs. Her role may be the best written one, and she gives it her "authentic swing". It is clear that she is well ahead of other young actresses in both grace and talent, but also the actor’s instinct and the ability to make all the right choices. Finally, an honorable mention goes to Jack Lemmon, who appears shortly at the beginning and the end of the movie, but narrates throughout. His imposing cinematic personality gives some credibility to the "legend" of the movie.